League for senior shuttlers proposed

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Jakarta-based Tangkas badminton club official Lius Pongoh called on the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) to introduce a badminton league for the senior shuttlers who are not admitted to the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI).

"The league would accept non-PBI shuttlers so they are still motivated to strive for better achievement," he said on the sidelines of the Inter-club National Badminton Championships.

"The event will also serve as a secondary supplier to the national squad. With this system, non-PBI shuttlers also have the chance to compete in international events."

PBSI official in charge of athletes development Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar welcomed the idea.

"But we must first establish week-end leagues in regencies and mayoralties at the grass-roots level," he said.

"Once these lowest level leagues are running smoothly, we can organize provincial leagues and senior leagues."

Siregar admitted that the ongoing athletes development system was too centralized on PBI which comprises national shuttlers.

"The wide gap between Java-based and non-Java-based shuttlers is the result of our long-held policies. We shouldn't blame other people. We must change the current system which gives no chance to badminton clubs in regencies and mayoralties to produce good shuttlers because the good ones are always transferred to bigger clubs."

PBSI official in charge of talent scouting, Icuk Sugiarto, said regencies and mayoralties are also to blame for neglecting continuity in their shuttlers development.

"Regencies and mayoralties don't only need good facilities and strong financial backup but also experts. They should invite more experienced coaches to improve the quality of local coaches," he said.

"Local shuttlers can be sent to better clubs or training camps to improve their skills specially if they can't find equal practice partners in their home towns."

Siregar said PBSI must empower badminton clubs in regencies and mayoralties to spread the sport's development.

"We must involve local administrations to finance clubs. Jakarta will not be able to do anything in the future as most of the money has been distributed to the regions," he said, referring to regional autonomy. (nvn)